Ex-Mayor Richard, wife plan move to St. Louis

Mary Richard's work in medical research will be assisted there.

Graham Richard, who served as Fort Wayne's mayor from 2000 through 2007, is moving to St. Louis.

“I'm gone three weeks every month anyway, and my wife is from St. Louis,” explained Richard, a Democrat.

“She's been supportive of my interests in the past. This will help with her career.” Mary Richard's work in medical research will be assisted by several major facilities in the St. Louis area, he said.

Richard said his work for his consulting company, Graham Richard LLC, takes him all over the country to lecture about topics such as the use of high-speed Internet bandwidth.

He is also writing a book about how local governments can best cope with looming financial challenges through techniques he employed as mayor, including performance-based union contracts.

Richard said he is in the process of selling the couple's home, adding that a move could come as soon as July.

Richard, who as mayor began the Harrison Square downtown redevelopment project, said he looks forward to spreading word of the city's achievements to a U.S. audience from his new base of operations.

“It's always a challenge (to move) when you have deep roots,” he said. “But I'm pleased Fort Wayne city government has carried on in relative financial stability.”